The school district's boundaries include Hempstead Road to the northeast (formerly US 290), Interstate 610 to the east, Clay Road to the north, the Addicks Dam to the west, and Buffalo Bayou to the south. Spring Branch serves 35,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students and includes a region with 188,000 residents.

There are currently four traditional high schools (grades 9-12), one of which is 6A, and three 5A high schools, eight middle schools (grades 6-8), and twenty-six elementary schools (grades K-5), and six early education Pre-K centers in the district. Three more high school centers serve students in grades 9-12 with various purposes, including one public charter school.

The school district originated from the Spring Branch School Society, which was sponsored by the St. Peter's Church in 1856. The first school opened in 1889. By 1905, the white school had one teacher with 49 pupils and the black school had one teacher with 29 pupils.[5]

The area did not become urban until the expansion of Houston city limits in the 1950s, which followed a failed attempt by the entire Spring Branch region to incorporate into a single entity, leading to the establishment of the Memorial Villages. [5] The schools desegregated.

Hal Guthrie became superintendent in 1986 and retired in 2001. During Guthrie's term, an influx of Hispanic and low income students entered the district. By 2001, SBISD established free preschool for all students at all income levels. Melanie Markley of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Guthrie "not only guided the district back to health, but his retirement this year caps the end of a career that many say has earned Spring Branch a reputation as a trailblazer."[7]

In 2009, SBISD began a partnership with Houston Community College Northwest, allowing students to take community college credit. Each student may earn up to 30 credits while enrolled at an SBISD school.[8]

Spring Branch ISD is led by a Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Scott R. Muri, chosen by the Board of Trustees, headed by President Karen Peck. The Board of Trustees is elected by voters living in Spring Branch ISD.

In 2007 Sherwood was the only SBISD school to get a Texas Education Agency ranking of "unacceptable." In 2008 it gained a "recognized" rating.[10]

Spring Branch Elementary School (Houston)

In 1998 Spring Branch Elementary had a mostly Hispanic student body. During that year the Texas Education Agency ranked the school as "recognized." 55% of the students were exempted from taking the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). 20% took the test, but their scores did not factor into the state's ranking since the students were new to the school district.[18]